Adjustable support for pipe carriers



Sept. 13, 1932. ApH. RENSHAW ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR PIPE CARRIERS Filed April 16, 1925 a. 2 INVEZTOR.

fie} A'T R EY Patented Sept. 13, 1932 ATENT OFF-ICE ALFRED H. RENSHAW, OF N OROTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY l -I SIGNAL COMPANY, OF-ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Application filed April 16,1925. Serial No. 23,552;

This invention relates to an anchorage or supportfor pipe carriers of the type used to carry movable operating rods for railway switches, signals and like apparatus.

In operating outlying switches and signals from a centralized tower or station house, movable rods or pipes are often used to transmit the power from the operating lever to the switch or signal mechanism. It is customary to support these movable operating rods or pipes on a standardized type of pipe carrier having anti-friction rollers, these carriers being located at suitably spaced points along the operating rods. In locating and supporting the pipe carriers it is essential that the supporting structure be permanent, thatthe pipe carriers may be readily and quickly aligned and that the parts constituting the supporting structure be light, inexpensive and interchangeable.

In accordance with the present invention, which is a continuation in part, for all the subject matter in common, of the invention disclosed in my previous application, Ser. No.

617,628, filed February 7, 1923, it is proposed to provide a supporting structure for securing pipe carries to a permanent foundation or base block, and more specifically it is proposed to provide a structure of this type 1 which may be quickly and permanently mounted, which will permit the easy alignment of several pipe carriers as a unit, which is inexpensive and light in weight and in which the parts are readily interchangeable.

Other specific features, objects and advan: tages of the present invention will be pointed out or willbecome apparent as the description thereof progresses.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the pipe carrier supporting structure embodying the present invention, together with a founda: tion block and two pipe carriers with the operating rods or pipes carried thereby; and

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. p

Referring to the. drawing, a foundation block 1. preferably made of concrete orother suitable material, has been shown, this block shown secured to the foundation block by means of the supports comprised in the pres ent invention, and as these pipe carriers are well known to those skilled in the art, their construction will not be described in detail.

As shown, the pipe carriers consist of the 7.

side frames 5 carrying the anti-friction rollers 6 in the bearing slots 7 The switch or signal operating pipes or rods '8 are carried on the rollers 6 and-are retained in place against accidental displacement by the retaining rollers 9. The side frames 5 are securely bolted to a pair of parallel support ing members 10, usually consisting of short sections of pipe, by means of the hook-bolts 11 provided with the nuts 12. It will be seen that when the required number of pipe carriers is clamped to a pair of lateral members 10, a unitary rigid structure is. provided for supporting the operating rods.

Referring now more particularly to the supporting means comprising the presentinvention, two supporting pedestals 13 having wide substantially U-shaped depressions in their upper faces are placed near the ends of the foundation block 1. The pedestals 13 have enlarged separated bases or legs 14 having an opening therebetween as shown, so that they may maintain their positions on the foundation block without danger of tilting or sliding. Two grooves or notches 15 are provided at the extreme ends of the depressions in the upper faces of the pedestals, these grooves being shaped to receive the pipes 10. V

Clamp pieces 0 are provided to retain the lateral pipes 10 in engagement with the pedestals 13 and to retain the pedestals in en gagement with the foundation block 1. The clamp pieces O are of substantially U-shape, and are provided with upwardly extendin ends'16 which are tapered so that the width of the upper portions of the ends 16 is appreciably greater than the width of the lower portions, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The tapered construction of the ends 16 forms wedge-like portions which force the lateral pipes 10 downwardly and apart against the grooves in the pedestals 13. The clamp pieces C are provided with elongated slots 17 in their horizontal portions to receive the threaded ends of the hook bolts 4 as shown. These slots provide forthe lateral movement of the clamp pieces C so that the upwardly extending ends 16 of the clamp pieces may be moved to a position to engage the pipes 10 between the hook bolts 11. The slots 17 also permit a certain amount of adjustment of the supporting pipes 10 with the pipe carriersP. When the pipes 10 have been moved relative to the pedestals and the clamp pieces until'one .of the hook bolts 11 engages one end 16 of a clamp piece C, the. clamp piece may be moved to give a further adjustment.

In assembling-the structure described, the foundation blocks are set along the trackway in aligned relation and at suitably spaced points. T'wo pedestals 13 are then placed near the ends of a foundation block, with the clamp pieces G passed between their bases or legs 14. The lateral pipes 10 are then passed'into the grooves 15 ofthe pedestals 13,'the clamp pieces'C being lifted to engage the'upper surfaces of these pipes 10. The threaded ends of the anchor bolts 4 are passed through the slots 17 -of the clamp pieces C and the lower ends of the'bolts 4 are inserted in the holes 2 in the foundation block. The required number of pipe carriers P may now be secured to the lateral pipes 10 by means of the hook bolts 11, and when these pipe carriers are secured'in place, the structure including the pipe carriers P and the pipes 10 may be adjusted for alignment along the operating rods 8, the pipes 10' being shifted on the pedestals '13 until the proper alignment is secured. The clamping operation is completed by tightening the nuts 18 on the anchor bolts 4, thus-securely clampingthe pipes 10 against the pedestals l3 and also clamping the pedestals 13 against the foundation block 1.

Although only one specific manner of asse'mbling the pipe carrier supporting structure of the present invention has been described. It should be understood that this assembling may be done in any one of several convenient ways. For instance, the pipe carriers P may be clamped to the pipes 10 by meansof the hookbolts 11 and transported to the foundation blocks as'a unitary structure, thepedestals 13 and the clamp pieces C being slipped over the'ends of the pipes 10 and secured to the foundation block as before.

, lVhen this procedure is followed, the pipe carriers must be removed from the ends of the pipes 10 to allow the pedestals 13 and clamp pieces C to be passed over the pipes 10.

It is sometimes desirable to assemble the entire structure including the pipe carriers on the foundation block 1 at the railway stop or other convenient point, and to subsequently set theassembled structures in place. WVith the construction of the present invention this may be very conveniently done, as

the entire-structure may be held by the ends of the lateral pipes 10 while the foundation block l is tamped into place in the ground.

It will be seen from the description given that a very convenient, simple and rugged support for pipe carriers has been provided. It should be particularly noted that the structures shown permits the use of short sections of'scrap pipe for the lateral members 10,- irregularities and variations in the diameter of these pipes being compensated r used at the outer edge of each foundation block. Asthe nut 18 of thehook bolt 4 engages the clamp piece C near its outer end, the effect of the cl-amppiece is to bend the lateral pipes 10 about the-pedestal 13 as a fulcrum-thus tendingto how the pipes 10 upwa'rdly at their midpoints and to prevent their sagging between the two foundation blocks.

Another particular advantage of the present invention resides in the fact that the parts used at each end of the foundation block are identical and hence interchangeable, this feature serving to reduce the number of different parts which must be kept in stock.

As the present invention has been described in connection with a rat-her specific clamping structure, it should be clearly understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the exact details of the-form shown, and further, that certain alterations, changes and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention-as defined by the appended claims.

Vhat it is desired to secure by Letters Patent is 1. pipe carrier support for use with foundation bloc-ks com-prising, a pedestal loose on the foundation block and adapted to rest on the-top thereof,-,-a? pair of parallel pipes, said pedestal having two rounded re- 'cesses in its upper face to receive said pipes, said recesses embracing less than half of the circumference of the pipes so that the pipes can be moved transversely into and out of the recesses, a clamp piece between the pipes adjacent to the pedestal and contacting with said pipes at points off-set from the pedestal to spread the pipes apart as said clamp piece moves downward toward the foundation block, and a single anchor bolt for pulling said clamp piece downward toward the foundation block, and thereby acting to rigidly clamp the pipes and pedestal together and hold the pedestal rigidly in place on the foundation block.

2. A structure of the type described for supporting a group of signal pipes on a foundation block comprising, a pair of parallel supporting pipes, a plurality of pipe carriers supported on said pipes one directly against the other, hook bolts securing said pipe carriers to said supporting pipes, a pedestal member adapted to rest on the foundation and having provision in its upper face to receive said pair of pipes without interfering or contacting with said pipe carriers and said hook bolts, a separate clamp piece having a slot therein and bearing against the inside faces of said parallel pipes adjacent to said pedestal member but not interfering with said pipe carriers and said hook bolts, said clamp piece when moved downward toward the foundation acting to spread the pipes apart as well as force them downward, and screw-threaded means adapted to be anchored to the foundation block passing through said slot and engaging said clamp piece.

3. A structure for rigidly connecting a pair of parallel pipes to a'foundation block comprising, a pedestal member adapted to support said pipes against downward and outward movement, said pedestal member permitting removal of said pipes upwardly, a separate clamp member engaging the inner faces of said pipes, only at points offset from the pedestal member and acting to spread the pipes apart when moved relative to the pedestal, and an anchor bolthaving a nut engaging the upper face of the clamp member, said clamp member acting when the nut is tightened to spring the pipes against the pedestal and spread them apart into rigid clamping relation thereto and also acting to hold the pedestal rigidly in place on the foundation.

4. A pipe carrier support for use with foundation blocks comprising, a pedestal having separate downwardly extending legs adapted to rest on the top of the foundation block, a pair of parallel pipes, said pedestal having two rounded grooves in its upper face to receive. said pipes, a separate clamp piece having a portion thereof extending between the legs of said pedestal and having upwardly extending wedge-shaped portions passing between and engaging said pipes to force the pipes'downwardly and apart as said clamp piece is moved toward said foundation block, and a single anchor bolt for pulling said clamp piece toward said foundation block and thereby rigidly clamping the pipes and the pedestal together and hold ing the pedestal rigidly in place on the foundation block. I a I 5. A structure for supporting pipe carriers on a foundation comprising a pedestal having legs with an opening therebetween and adapted to rest loosely on the top of the foundation, a pair of pipes supported by said pedestal, a separate clamp piece. passing through said opening in said pedestal and having spaced wedge portions positionable between said pipes, and an anchor bolt adapted to engage said foundation block and said clamp piece and acting when said bolt is tightened and the clamp piece is moved toward the foundation block to rigidly clamp said pipes tosaid pedestal and to hold said pedestal rigidly in place on said foundation.

6. A structure for rigidly connecting a pair of parallel pipes to a foundation block comprising, a pedestal having separate downwardly extending legs adapted to rest on the top of said foundation block, grooves in the upper surface of said pedestal for receiving said pipes, a separate clamp piece passing between said pedestal and said foundation block and having upwardly extending wedge-shaped portions offset from the pedestal and extending between and engaging said pipes, and means for drawing said clamp piece toward said foundation block.

7. A structure for rigidly connecting a pair of parallel pipes to a foundation block comprising, a narrow pedestal adapted to rest on the top of said block and having grooves in the upper surface thereof for receiving said pipes, a clamp piece having two upwardly projecting narrow wedge-shaped portions engaging said pipes on each side of said pedestal, and an anchor bolt for drawing said clamp piece toward said foundation block.

8. A structure for rigidly securing a pair of parallel pipes to a foundation block comprising, a pedestal adapted to rest on the top of said block and having a wide U-shaped depression in its upper surface with grooves for receiving said pipes at the ends of said depression, said pedestal having two downwardly extending bases with an opening therebetween,a clamp piece having two upwardly extending portions passing between said pipes on opposite sides of said pedestal and connected by a horizontal portion extending through said opening between said bases of the pedestal, said upwardly extending portions of said clamp piece being tapered toward their lower ends whereby said portions 4 ts mea may force said pipes outwardly and downwardly against the grooves in said pedestal when said clamp piece is drawn toward the foundation block, and an anchor bolt adapted 5 to engage the foundation block and having a} nut engaging the horizontal portion of said clamp piece for drawing said clamp piece toward said foundation block.

9. A structure for rigidly mounting a pair of separate parallel supporting pipes, comprising a foundation pier having two upwardly extending pedestals on the upper surface thereof with an opening therebetween, said pedestals each being grooved in its upper surface for receiving supporting pipes, a separate clamp piece located in said opening between said pedestals and having two, downwardly tapered, spaced wedge-shaped portions engaging said pipes on each side of said 3Q pedestals, and a bolt for drawing said clamp piece toward said foundation pier. v

10. A structure for rigidly mounting a pair of separate parallel supporting pipes, comprising, a foundation pier having two upwardly extending pedestals on the upper surface thereof with an opening therebetween, said pedestals each being grooved in its upper surface for receiving supporting pipes, a separate clamp piece located in said opening 33 between said pedestals and having a clamp jaw including two, downwardly tapered, spaced, wedge-shaped faces engaging said pipes for pressing said pipes against said pedestals, and a bolt for drawing said clamp 3-? piece toward said foundation pier.

In testimony whereof I a'ifix my signature.

ALFRED H. RENSHAW. 

